Saturday did some wildflower work along serpentine areas of state route 49 between Sonora and Mariposa. By mid afternoon became too breezy for still flowers so I spent some time checking other areas in the region. Thus late afternoon drove into the lower Merced River Canyon. Noticed redbud were near peak which normally occurs early to mid March. The big steep grassland slopes were lushly greby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotetomdisco David, I was admiring your photo of the creek below the Minarets. Where precisely was that photo taken in respect to Iceberg Lake/ Cecile Lake/ Minaret Lake? This is one area I'm considering as a destination for my annual Yosemite trip in 2012. Jim Go back and left mouse select that or any of the image on my home page gallery and an image page opens up with lots of informaby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteFrank Furter Did you post that a couple years ago? I seem to recall so. Thanks for sharing them. I like it very much. Is that Hite's Cove? Maybe and Nope. I'm guessing the one I posted was a very similar G10 pic that included our 4x5's up on tripods? That was a long from dawn riverside hike on the old decayed north side jeep road from Briceberg to the best area all those car gawkers aby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
About this time of year poppies start showing on those Merced River canyon slopes across the river. Especially areas between Indian Flat and the west side of Fergusson Ridge. Rainfall has been modestly above normal that is promising. So for any of you locals making that river drive any of that orange popping up? from glorious 2009 for you that don't remember... David Senesac http:by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The first good set of images I have yet seen from that route, thanks. Very informative. Have marked up the topo over many years hoping to go in their some time. Love that glaciated granite geology especially on large streams. Of course cannot go to far up until water levels drop in mid summer just as BS noted in his WP description of that route.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OPG tends to be a problem because the clueless sometimes follow chains of cars making that turn both from the bottom and top even though the direction of the main highway is obvious. Thus one thing the county could do is install even larger more serious WARNING signs. One merely needs to park at the bottom awhile and smell the air as vehicles pass by. A surprising number have strong brake burniby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
Small world? In 1984, four of us were backpacking up on Falls Creek and the mosquitoes at Wilma Lake were indeed the worst I've encountered. The ridiculous reality for us is that none of us poor guys had a tent. Instead had military mosquito head nets and small squares of netting for added use like above our sleeping bags. The squeeters there were also very aggressive. It was miserable. Tby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
When one is seeking California areas with densest wildflowers one need look no further than where serpentine outcrops show on geological maps. Such areas have more wildflowers than other areas because most species like grasses and especially all the alien invasive European grasses plaguing our flora today simply cannot grow on our state rock. It rejects em. Serpentine outcrop here in the Mby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
For the Lee Vining areas some of you are discussing, if you want to legally disperse camp at higher altitudes the night before a backpack to help aclimate, drive up the Virginia Lakes road north of Mono Lake where the end is at 9.8k and there are lots of spots to drop a bag roadside at over 9k. If 8.4k is good enough, take the Obsidian Dome dirt road a bit south of the U395 June Lake junctionby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I've camped along Evergreen Road dozens of times. Go east about 3 miles to Ackerson Meadow and take dirt road IS25. There are also many other places along that road. http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=37.84283,-119.83938&z=15&t=Tby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Your image of "On the way to Little Devils Postpile: shows the one squeeze spot on that route. One can usually climb up and around that but it would just be icy steep snow now. An excellent view from the knob just above. I normally park west of Pothole and ramble through the saddle SE of East Cottage Dome. Would expect the flooded section of the west end of the bridge below LDP wouldby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Suspect overnight temperatures are stll killing some mosquitoes moving up canyon from lower elevations. Air sumping from higher elevation where nightime convection cooling off the large snowfields added to radiation cooling during clear calm nights is likely causing significant pooling in the meadows thus keeping numbers in check. But that will soon change as ground temps rise.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
From an Inyo NF page: Camping is allowed outside of designated campgrounds in some areas on the Inyo National Forest. In areas designated as "Developed Recreation Areas," camping is restricted to developed campgrounds only. These areas include the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area, Lundy Canyon, Lee Vining Canyon, June Lake Loop, the Mammoth area, Reds Meadow area, Convict Lake,by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Vaguely thought it might be that fall since I saw it up close back in 1979 while at Edyth and thought at the time it was odd such a large fall was not on the 15 minute topo of those days. Have also been to top of Nance while camping at Spotted Fawn.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yup yuz did! I had to take the inefficient cutoff trail once when the diversion dam quota was full. Main issue with the diversion dam is one needs 4wd and it isn't easy with low underbody clearance as with my Suburu. Coming in at night with a Subu, a strong flashlight, spotter, and shovel is pretty much necessary. With typical hi clearance 4wd it is trivial although trying to figure out wherby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I'm guessing you're considering taking the ferry across Edison, hiking the JMT over Bear Ridge, up Bear Creek, over Selden Pass to Blaney Meadows, then down to Florence Lake for its ferry? Alot of effort climbing from Edison up over Bear Ridge without much in the way of interesting views as one tends to be in forest. Much more efficient to start at Bear Diversion Dam and hike up Bear Creek.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks eeeeeeeeek. Slate Crick that's the spot. Last year hiked the decaying road on the north side 3 1/2 miles from the bridge then climbed the steep slopes. Will likely visit one of the next two weekends.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Question for any of you Merced River commuters that range from further west than El Portal... About the second week of March that we are now in, I would expect there are a few early redbuds blossoming along highway 140 and maybe even the start of a bit of orange poppy color on those steep hillsides across the river? Winter 150 days plot of remote gauge at Briceberg: http://cdec.water.ca.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
For long years there have been a high percentage of vehicles with excessive speeds, especially along the valley loop. Never understood why there hasn't been more inforcement. Maybe because a fair number also work in the valley and or they don't want to offend visitors? Likewise many impatient trans Sierra drivers on SR-120 going through the park. In the valley it is worst on weekends aboby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Anvanho, you obviously are not basing your assumption that Northern California is receiving heavy precipitation this year on real precipitation statistics. Maybe you're a recent arrival to the state and haven't experienced years like 1998? Because in fact much of Northern California is either a bit below average or only modestly above average. Even in the SF Bay Area, much of San Mateo Countyby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Dusk September 2, 2006 looking out over a set of silhouetted erratics with my bro atop one, an unnamed lake, and beyond Evolution Valley in Kings Canyon National Park. David http://www.davidsenesac.comby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Although it would negatively impact my own use of the valley, I would welcome any plan that seriously reduces automobile traffic in the valley during specific periods. There are simply way way too many cars during summer months, especially on weekends, that greatly mars the experience. The majority of vehicles come into the valley after 10am and leave before 5pm. The loop road becomes one enoby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Will never fly to call any summit of significance in the very liberal San Francisco Bay Area after Reagan or any other Republican. Already today that news story on SFGate.com has a long list of ridiculing comments left by readers. I do like the idea of changing the name as I am not a fan of the Devil. Note the whole interior Coast Range from Mount Diablo south to Pacheco Pass is called the Dby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
The eleven day February 1986 storm that left avalanche debris in the form of tree trunks all over the Central and Southern Sierra easily created the greatest Sierra avalanches during my lifetime. A few days after the storm we drove to Mammoth via SR-88 and US395 and there were still large piles of avalanche snow and debris from the high ravines above that had crossed US395 near Old Marina at Monby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The two major canals sucking water from the Delta have been ecological disasters. They were built during my lifetime with claims such would not happen but it did. Inconsiderate farming interests in past generations of the San Joaquin Valley totally decimated into extinction San Joaquin River system salmon runs and almost all valley riparian habitats. And the current canal is decimating the Sacby DavidSenesac - General Discussion
thanks for the link eeek, nice work putting together that video, hope it gets some exposure, i also viewed some of the other segments, would enjoy doing field work during spring with any of those park biologists in the wildflower segment David Senesac http://www.davidsenesac.comby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Some things cannot be known and one is how much snow is going to pile up during the rest of this winter since most is still to come. Thus you will just have to wait. The last significant storms usually occur by mid April so that would be the better time to check on conditions and then make plans. Usually mid June would be ok for a trip down the river after an average winter.by DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
...more http://www.davidsenesac.com/images/print_05-q4-2.html Mid July through mid August. Very crowded beside trails and lake shores but one can easily find areas lacking others with a bit of looking and terrain wisdom. Trivial to carry a compact digital and practically impossible to carry an 8x10. Into the Ritter Range... http://www.davidsenesac.com/Iceberg_Lake/iceberg_8-11-06.htby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Yes our brief three months of green springtime for the vast lower elevation areas that most Californian's live in is its most magical time of year. But also rather ignored by the large urban masses living in those areas who in this day and age have generally lost the ability to relate due to little experience outdoors in anything but brief superficial ways usually during mid summer when it is otby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
The end of December snow survey reported about 100% of normal precipitation across the Southern Sierra so this may again be a normal year after the recent couple droughty years. Despite moderate drought in many areas, lower elevations west of Yosemite were above average last year. The start of this winter for the lower elevation Yosemite region bodes well for spring wildflowers in particular asby DavidSenesac - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion